Apparatus for operating electric signals for elevators.



No. 629,302. Patented luly l8, I899. H. PEDERSEN.

APPARATUS FOR OPERATING ELECTRIC SIGNALS FOR ELEVATORS.

(Application filed Feb. 11, 1899.) (No Model.) B ShBQts- -Sheet l.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Tu: nonms Firms to. PHOTO-LITHD.. WASHINGTON, u c.

Patented July 18, I899.

H. PEDERSEN.

APPARATUS FOR OPERATING ELECTRIC SIGNALS FUR ELEVATORS.

' (No Modem 6 Sheets-Sheet 2.

ATTORNEYS No. 629,302. Patented July l8, 13-99. H. PEDERSEN.

APPARATUS FOR OPERATING ELECTRIC SIGNALS FOR ELEVATORS.

(Applicntion filed Feb. 11, 1899.) 7 (No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 3,

WITNESSES: INVENTOR ATTO R N EYS ma NORRVS 'vircas co. 'BHOTO-LITHO" WASHlNGTON n. cy

Patented July l8, I899. H. PEDERSEN.

APPARATUS FOR OPERATING ELECTRIC SIGNALS FOR ELEVATORS.

(Application filed. Feb. n, was.

(No Model.)

6 Sheets-Sheet 4,

ATTORNEYS T cams PETERS 00., woro-Llmo. wnumcmu n c No. 629,302. Patented July I8, I899. H. PEDERSEN.

APPARATUS FOR OPERATING ELECTRIC SIGNALS FOR ELEVATORS.

(Application filed Feb. 11. 1899.)

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 5.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR ATTORNEYS THE mmms PETERS cc FHOTO-LITNBH WASHINGTON, a c

No. 629,302. Patented July I8, I899. H. PEDERSEN.

APPARATUS FOR OPERATING ELECTRIC SIGNALS FORELEVATORS.

(Application filed Feb. 11, 1899.) (N "M l- 3 a u '9 6 Sheets-Sheet s,

up DOW/V Z 0 /Z up D0 w, v (/P 120 my WITNESSES: INVENTOR 4: Ami/W2 w ATTOR N EYS.

m: Noam PETERS co. PHDTD-LITNQ, WASHINGTON. 0. c,

UNITED STATES" HENRY IEDERSEN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PATENT OFFICES APPARATUS FOR OPERAI'ING ELECTRIC SIGNALS FOR ELEVATORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 629,302, dated July 18, 1899.

Application filed February 11, 1899. Serial No. 705,305. (No model.) i

1.0 all whom, it may con/067%:

Be it'known that I, HENRY PEDERSEN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the borough of Manhattan, city of New York, in the county of New York, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Operating Electric Signals for Elevators, of which the -.ollowing is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof, in which similar letters and figures of reference designate like or equivalent parts.

My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for operating electric signals for elevators, which shall notify the person in charge of an elevator-car upon approaching any floor of the building that a passenger desires that car to stop and take him up or down, as the case may be, and may also indicate to the intending passenger on any floor which of the several elevators is about to stop for him.

My invention or the essential parts thereof can be applied to a single elevator or to a group of elevators.

I provide suitable signals intended to be actuated only when the car is approaching the floor of the building upon which an intending passenger has operated a push-button or other suitable device, such signals being located in each elevator-car and also over the doorway of each of the several elevatorcars of thegroup upon each floor.

The traveling elevator-car carries no contact points or brushes or other moving part-s of the apparatus directly attached to it; but I suspend a slow-moving tube in the shaft within which each elevator-car travels, which tube shall move relatively and proportionately with the movement of its corresponding elevator-car, this movement being obtained by a proper connection and reduction gear, preferably attached to the overhead wheel or drum from which thecar is suspended. This tube contains four insulated wires, that number being suliicient in my system for any number of floors and for any number of cars composing the group. Corresponding to each floor of the building a contact plate or frame is attached to each tube, bearing upon its face fou rcontact-points, which are connected directly to the four several wires carried by the tube. Opposite each of the movingtubes and fixed upon the inner face of the shaft is a strip or rail extending from the top to the bottom of the building, having upon its face a contact-plate corresponding to each door of the building and so disposed as to come into sliding contact with its corresponding plate attached to the traveling tube. Each of these plates attached to the inner wallot the shaft bears several contact-blocks, six in number, arranged in a manner similar to that shown in Fig. 10 and at O in Figs. 1 and 12, and for the purposes hereinafter described are sufficient to operate my system as applied to any number of floors and any number of elevators constituting the group. Each of these contact-plates is so disposed upon the strip as to be in contact with its corresponding plate upon the traveling tube only when the elevator-car is approaching the iioor to which it corresponds, traveling either up or down, as the case may be. The strip to which the fixed plates are attached may be continuous from the top to the bottom of the building, or it may consist, preferably, of a short section at eachfloor set into recesses, if desired. The length of each section can be measured by the distance which the corresponding block on the tube may travel, the intermediate portions of the strip being cut away. By means of the slow-traveling tube I avoid the imperfect connection which would be made by a sliding contact attached to a rapidly-moving elevator-car, and I am able to use relatively smaller contact-plates and to accomplish the desired ends by a new arrangement of parts and a new theory of construction requiring but a small number of wires and a simple and inexpensive apparatus.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan of the arrangement and connection of the several parts of the system, forming a complete circuit upon a single floor of the building, for one elevator only, supposed to be moving in a downward direction. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the traveling tube and of one of the contact plates or frames carried by it. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the contact plate or frame carried by the traveling tube. Fig. 4. is a horizontal elevation of the same, showing also theinclosing box or frame K. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section of the pushbutton box on the line 21t- 2-t of Fig. 6. Fig. (3 is a vertical section of the pushbutton box 0, showing both. the up and down sections. Fig. '7 is a horizontal skeleton plan of one of the push -button plungers. liigs. S and 5) show the mechanical arrangements of parts which may be used in suspending and operating the traveling tube. Fig. shows the vertical elevation of the contact-plate fixed to the side of the elevator-shaft, and Fig. 11 is a vertical section of the same. 12 is a plan or diagram of the arrangement of parts, wiring, and connections for a system of elevators, showing three elevators, one of which is represented as ascending and two as descending in a building consisting of four floors, including the top and bottom floors.

To illustrate the theory and method of the operation of my invention, 1 will describe the action of the several parts of my system, taking, for example, my apparatus as applied to a single elevator-car moving in a downward direction, the plan of which is shownin Fig. 1..

'e will suppose that the car travels, in its journey from the top to the bottom of the building, a distance of two hundred feet. I would suspend within the elevator-shaft a rod or hollow tube, carrying the four insulated wires, connected as hereinafter described, the weight of the rod being supported by a cable running over a wheel at the top of the shaft, and I would have the movement of the rod preferably about one seventy-fifth or one one-humlredth of the entire movement of the elevator and correspomling to it in direction; but this ratio may be varied to suit the requirements of each case.

In Fig. l, supposing that the elevator E is moving downward from th top of its shaft and assuming that an intending passenger is upon any floor of the building, such as the third, and wishes a car to take him to a lower floor of the building, and that this person has operated a push-button or other suitable device located at a convenient place on each floor by pressing the button marked Down, as shown at a, on the third floor, no signal'is shown to the operator in the elevator-car or to the waiting passenger until the car approaches the floor upon which the call-button has been pushed. Before the elevator-car has reached this third floor, and so that the opera tor has still a convenient length of time in which to stop the car at that floor without a jar, the moving contact-plate, such as 13, corresponding to the third floor, comes upon the upper portion of the fixed contactplate, such as is shown at U, corresponding to the third floor, and fixed upon the strip upon the side of the elevator-shaft. At this moment the lamp or other signal in the car is actuated, indicating to the operator that he must stop at the floor which the car is then approaching. This signal in the elevatoucar is then upon a closed electrical circuit, one end of which is connected directly to the dynamo or other source of current. From the dynamo (indicated at D) a wire 1 is led, preferably to the middle of the building at 2, and from thence through a flexible cable 3 to the elevator-car 5, connecting with aswitch in the ear, such as is shown at A, for the purpose hereinafter to be described, and which may be used to break the circuit at the will of the operator. From this switch A another wire l is led from the elevator-car E through the flexible cable to a switch F, operated as hereinafter described, and which I preferably place at the top of the elevator shaft. Through this switch F, I obtain connection with the wire contained in the traveling tube, which wire is directly connected with one of the sliding contact-pieces in each of the contact-plates attached to the tube and corresponding in position on each plate in the relative position shown at At the moment when the car it is approaching the third floor of the building the moving tube has taken a relative position within the shaft, such that the contact-point 5 upon the plate l3 of the tube corresponding to the third floor is in contact with the upper edge of the contact-block 7 of the plate U at tached to the side of the shaft and correspondingtothethird floor. 'lheconnectionismade by this sliding contact between [5 and 7, thence through the fixed wire 8 to the point 0 of the down section of the push-lmtton box, and as this button has been pushed connection made from this point 9 by the strip to the point 11 of the same push-button box. This point 11 of the puslrbutton box is upon a wire 12, which connects all of the similar points ll 11 $3 in Figs. 1 and 12 of both up and down sections of all the push-button boxes in the system, and then leads through the flexible cable to the lamp or other signal G in the elevator-carlfl. From the other terminal of this car-lamp G another wire 13 leads out through the flexible cable to the traveling tube corresponding to the moving car, and by means of a wire 1t in the traveling tube, which connects all of the similar and correspondingly-situatedcontact-points15.1.5 to the contact-point 15 on the plate I of the traveling tube corresponding to the third floor. At this moment this moving point 15 is in sliding contact with the broad block 16 of the fixed plate C corresponding to the same floor. This COlliilttil-blOClC 16 is broad, so that the sliding contact-points 15 and 17 are both upon it at the same time, and by means of it connection is made between the point 15 and the point 1. which is directly connected by the wire 18, carried by the traveling tube to the other pole of the dynamo or source of the electric current 1), thereby completing the circuit and operating the signal in the elevatoncar E. At the same time another circult is completed, which will operate the lamp or other signal over the doorway of the car which is approaching the third floor and which will indicate to the waiting passenger that the ear in that shaft is descending and will stop at IIO the third floor to take him downwardviz., at the same moment as before described. When the car is approaching the third fioor,this other circuit is closed leading from the dynamo D, through the wire 1, through the flexible cable, through the switch A in the car, and again from the car by the wire 4 to the switch F, which is placed overhead at the top of the shaft, and by means of this switch through the wire 5, as before, to the moving contact-. point 6 upon the plate B, attached to the travcling tubejthis contact-point 6 being then in sliding contact with the contact-block 7 of the fixed plate 0, which eontact-block 7 is connected by a fixed wire to the point 9 in the down section of the push-button box on the third floor. The portion of the circuit so described thus far is used in common to operate the signal in the elevator-car and to operate the signal over the elevator-door on the third fioor. As the intending passenger has pushed the button at a on this floor the point 9 is in directconnection by the strip 20 with the point 10 of the same push-button box and this point 10 is inconnection by a fixed wire 19 with the lamp or other signal device N at the doorway of the elevator-sh aft. From this lamp or other signal N connection is made through the fixed wire 21 to the broad block 16 of the fixed contact-plate C, which is at this moment in sliding contact with the moving point 17 of the corresponding plate of the traveling tube, and this point is directly connected to the wire 18 of the traveling tube, which leads to the other pole of the dynamo or other .source D of the electric current. lloth of these signals will continue in operation until the moving contact-point 6 upon the plate B, attached to the traveling tube, shall have moved downward, corresponding to the movement of the elevator-car, and shall have moved off from the contact-book 7 of the fixed plate C, thereby breaking the cireuit, oruntil the moving contact-p0int 17 shall have moved off from the contact-block 10. Both of these breaks in the circuit preferably occur at the same time, and the contact-blocks 7 and 16 are of such size and are so placed that the circuits shall be broken and the signals shall cease to be operated at about the time when the corresponding elevator-ear reaches the third floor, at which the button has been pushed and the signal has been operated. After the moving contact-point (3 has moved oil": of the contactblock 7 of the fixed plate 0 and the signals in the car and over the doorway of the elevator have ceased to operate the moving contactpoint 6 comes upon the small block 27, which is insulated from the block 7, and thereby closes an electrical circuit through a solenoidcoil, such as P, which operates an electromagnet, the end of which has dropped into a suitably-formed recess in the push-button plunger Ct at g, adapted to hold the plunger 0. in its pushed position and to maintain the strips 20 and 30 in contact with the points 9 10 11 and 29 31. VVhenthe electromagnet is energized, it is withdrawn, thereby releasing the plunger a, which is forced by a coil-spring or other suitable device to resume its normal position, disengaging the strips 20 and 30 from the contact-points 9 10 11 and 29 31, and leaving the plunger a of the push-button box ready to be operated by the person who may next wish to signal a car moving downward. This momentary electric circuit through the solenoid-coil comes from the dynamo D by the wires 1, 2, and 3 through the switch Ain the elevator-car, and thence by the wire 4 to the overhead switch F, which is then in contact with the point 34, and thence by the wire 5 to the contact-point (5 of the plate of the traveling tube H. This point 6 is at this moment in contact with the small block 27 of the plate 0. From the block 27 the wire 28 leads to the point 29 of the down section of the push-button box, and as the plunger (1 of the down section of this box is supposed to have been pushed the electrical connection is made by means of the strip 30 between the points 29 and 31. From 31. a wire leads through the solenoid-coil P, and from thence directly to the other pole of the dynamo D.

The foregoing description of the operation of the several parts of my system applies also to Fig. 12, and may be traced in reference to the middle elevator E of that drawing, represented as descending and approaching the third floor of the building.

The push-button box on each floor consists of two identically-similar sections, both of which are connected with the single signal in the elevator-car by the similar points 11 43 and the wire 12, but otherwise the two sections are independent and distinct, the up section connected with the up signal on the floor and with the up blocks 25 and 26 of the plate 0 and operating only when the button I) (marked Up) has been pushed, and the down section similarly connected to operate the down signal.

In applying my system to a group of elevators, as shown in Fig. 12, only one pushbutton box, as O, is needed on each floor, and a signal will be operated in the car and over the doorway of the car which next descends after the down button has been pushed. This is accomplished by means of the multi ple connections, as shown in Fig. 12. Each of the several down signals on the same floor is connected on the one side by one of the similar wires 21 to the contact-plate O in the shaft of its corresponding elevator, and the other poles of all of these several down signals on the same floor are connected in multiple to the point 10 of the down section of the push-button box on that floor by the wire 19 and its several branches. All of the similar blocks 7 of the plates 0 corresponding to the same floor are connected in multiple to the point 9 of the downsection of the push-button box on that floor, and the similar blocks 27 are connected in multiple to the point 29 of the pushbutton box. The multiple con nections to the corresponding points t3, all, and $5 of the up section of the push-button box are similarly made.

The multiple connections made from the several points of the push-button box and the fixed plate O to the similar parts of the system are all on the same floor, my system requiring but six cross-wires on each floor to include any number of elevators, connections being made to these six wires from the proper parts at each of the several elevator-shafts to enable me to operate both up and down signals, the wiring on each floor being independent except for the two trunk-wires 12 and 32, which connect all floors of the building, the points 43 and 11 ot the up and down sections of the push-button boxes on all floors being connected to the same wire 12 and thence leading to the signal in the elevatorcar, and the wire 32 connecting in multiple the coils of the solenoid-magnets of both up and down sections of all push-button boxes.

One push-button box on each floor con nected in multiple, as shown in Fig. l2, is sufficient; but for convenience I may place several push-button boxes on each lloor of the building. This will not require any change in my system or in the arrangement of parts, but the several similar parts of all push-button boxes on the same door should be connected together.

The up section of the push-button box O is not represented in Fig. l, but when the car is moving upward the switch F is thrown in the opposite direction to connectthe wire lwith the point 33, and thence by means of the wire 23 to the point 22 of the plate upon the traveling tube. The wire 5 and point (3 of the traveling tube are nowentirely dead or out of circuit, and though the point (3 may be upon either block 7 01-97 of the fixed plate 0 no effect is produced in operating the signals, but the point- 2 in ascending comes upon the blocks 25 and 26 and the points 15 and 17 come upon the block 21- and produce the desired results, one pole of the up lamp M being connected directly to the block it by a fixed wire and the other pole of thelamp It being connected by a fixed wire to the point 42 of the up section of the puslrbutton box, corresponding in relative position to the point marked 10 of the down section. The circuit operating the car-lamp in an ascending elevator, after the up button 1/ has been pushed, is then as follows: from the dynamo D, by means of the wires 1, 2, and 3, through the carswiteh A, and by the wire 1-, through the overhead switch F to the point 33, and by means of the wire 23 to the point 22 of the plate of the traveling tube. \Vhen the car is ascendto the point The wire 12 leads from the similar points ll and t3 in both the up and down sections of the push-button boxes on all floors to the lamp in the car, and thence by the wire 13 to the point 15 of the plate B on the traveling tube corresponding to that car. As this is now upon the block it, connection is made with the point 17 and from thence direct to the other pole of the dynamo D. The .circuit operating the up lamp over the elevator-car door continues the same as the circuit operating the elevator-car lamp from the dynamo D to the overhead switch F, thence byancans of the point 22 to the block 25, and from thence to the point all of the up section of the push-button box. From thence connection is made by the conductingstrip to with the adjacent point 1-), which is connected by a lixcd wire to one pole of the up lamp on this tloor. From the other pole of this up lamp a wire leads directly to the block it of the tixed plate 0, and from this block sliding contact is had with the point 17 ot' the plate ll of the trziveling tube, which is connected by the wire 18 to the other pole of the dynamo. The solenoid-circuit to release the plunger b of the up section of the puslrbutton box is the same as that of the lamp-circuits from the dynamo through the switch F to the point 22, and by means of the sliding contact connection is made through the small block 213, which is connected directly to the point 15 ot the up section of the pushbutton box, corresgmnling in position to the point 29 of the down section, and from this point 15, by means of the conducting-strip 4:6, attached to the plunger b to the point -17, and from this through the solenoid-coilv to the dynamo D.

On the top floor of the building no up button is needed, and consequently that portion of the push-button box maybe omitted. \Vheu the down button has been pushed on the top floor, the lamp over the elevator-car door on that iloor should indicate which of the cars is approaching the top and will next go down. Consequently the lamps marked Down can be connected directly to the up blocks, such as it, 2-3, and so of the lixed plates O on that floor, as shown in Fig. 12, and be operated by the ascending car be fore the switch l is reversed. I prefer to do this rather than to connect the down lamps to the blocks, such as '7, 1t and 27 of the plates O on that floor, which would necessitate reversing the switch 1 some time before the car E arrives at the top floor of the building. If it is not desired to operate the signal in the elevator-car when approaching thetop floor, the tixed connection in the push-button box between the wire 12 and the point 1-3 or ll of the push-button box may be omitted.

On thebottom floor of the building no pushbutton is ordinarily needed. Consequently that part of the apparatus may also be omitted. However, it is desirable to operate a signal over the door of; the car which is then descending and will be the next car to go up, and this should continue in operation .until the car starts upward. This can be accomplished by connecting the lamp marked Up to the down circuit and making the blocks, such as 36 and 37, unusually long, so that the points 6 and 17 will still remain upon these blocks while the car is stopping at the bottom floor, as shown in Fig. 12. No signal in the car will be operated, but the circuit operating the signal over the car-door will then be as follows: from the dynamo D, by the wires 1, 2, and 3, through the switch A in the car to the overhead switchF, then in contact with the point 34, and thence by the wire 5 to the point 6, which will be in sliding contact with the block 37. From 37 a fixed wire leads through the lamp which is over the car-door on' the ground-floor to the block 36, and from thence by the sliding contact with point 17 through the wire 18 to the dynamo D. If, however, the switch F should be operated before the car starts upward, the lamp on the bottom floor would still continue to burn, the circuit being continued from the switch through the point 33 of the wire 23 to the point 22 in sliding contact with the block-3S through a fixed wire connecting 38 to 37 or from 38 directly to the lamp and thence through the lamp to the block 36, which is in sliding contact with the point 17, and thence by 18 to the dynamo D.

Fig. 2 represe nts a portion of the traveling tubeor rod II containing or bearing the four several wires 5, 14-, 18, and 23. These wires are severally connected to the contact-points 6, 15, 17, and 22. One of these contact-points is shown in section at 71. g I prefer to construct them in the form of wheels free to revolve while in sliding contact and so arranged upon coiled spring thrust-bearings that they may adjust themselves to any unevenness in the ti xed contact-plate C. As a mechanical device to insure the efficient action of the wheel h in its revolution and thrust motion I place it between two other wheels made of hard rubber or other non-conducting material, such asjj, free to revolve upon axes parallel to that of It. This entire mechanism or system of moving contact-points I prefer to place in a frame or box K, having openings in its surface-plate B, through which the contacts 6, 15, 17, and 22 may protrude. The outer surrounding frame K of this box B, I prefer to make of metal having lips on either side of its face adapted to engage with projecting lips or grooves, such as I, (shown in Fig. 4,) formed by the metal sides or frame inclosing the strip upon which the fixed plate 0 is secured.

There is a moving plate, such as B, for each floor of the building attached to the traveling tube corresponding to each elevator, each plate B being so relatively adjusted that the contact-points (J, l5, l7, and 22 shall be in= contact with the blocks upon the fixed plates corresponding to any floor of the building only when the corresponding car is approaching that particular floor. This result may be obtained by api oper placing and adjustment of the moving plate B or of the fixed plate 0. I prefer to have the fixed plate 0 nearer opposite the floor to which it corresponds, so that the direct connections with the lamp and push-button box on that floor may be conveniently made. i

Fig. 10 shows the arrangement of parts of the fixed contact-plate C as viewed from the same direction as shown in Figs. 1 and 12. I make the plate (3 of porcelain or any other non-conducting material, upon which are affixed the blocks or strips of conducting material-such as 7 16, the-which are connected by fixed wires with other parts of the apparatus, as hereinbefore described, and are adapted to come into sliding contact with the points-such as 6, &c.of the moving plate 13.

Thetraveling tube H may be raised or lowuse a cable running over a pulley or wheel at the top of the building connected bya wormgear with the shaft of the pulley over which the cables supporting the carpass. This shaft is also made to carry a loose friction-clutch device operating a switch F andthrowing it in contact with the fixed plates 33 and 34:, ac cording to the direction in'which the shaft may be revolving, or the switch F may be operated by any equivalent means.

I prefer to make the tube II of hollow metal pipe; but I mayalso use a rod or shaft adapted to carry the four insulated wires upon its face or in grooves. If the traveling tube or rod II is of considerable length, it may happen that variations of temperature will cause a lengthening or shortenin g of the tube,which may tend to throw the traveling plate B out of its proper position in relation to its corresponding contact-plate G either too far up or down. To overcome this difficulty, I make the outer frame or shell K of the traveling contact-plate separate from the plate B itself 3 but they are adapted to fit together snugly. The plate B is fastened to transverse bolts or rods, such as 7t, which fit into slits in the sides of the outer frame or shell, being maintained in the proper position by spiral springs or other mechanical means, which may press sufiiciently against washers at the ends of the bolts to hold the plate B in its proper relative position. Attached to the strip or to the side of the elevator-shaft I place an ad j ustin g stop or bolt J at either or both ends of the path ofthe extreme travel of the moving plate B on each floor, which stop J can be so adjusted that at each time the plate B ascends or descends it may come in contact with one of these stops J, and by this means the position of B may be shifted or adjusted within its outer frame K by forcing the bolts 70 upward or downward in the slots provided to receive them. By this means an automatic adjustment is possible which will overcome any small variation in position which may be cccasioned by change of temperature, sudden before described.

shock, or accident. The points of the moving plate, such as 6, &c., are held in contact with the fixed plate by the interlocking lips of K and L; but I may accomplish the same result by forcing the traveling tube II to move within fixed guides suitably placed. In order to facilitate the adjustment and movement of the plate B with reference to its frame K, the connections between the wires 5, 14, 18, ant of the tube and the points (3, 15, 1'7, and 22 may be made by allowing slight movement of the surfaces in contact at the screw-joint, or small wormcoils may be made of each of the several wires Within the several frames K and adjacent to the fixed connections.

I can use a mechanical pointer or other device to indicate the location of the elevatorcar, operated by directmechanical connection with the traveling tube by means of rackand-pinion or equivalent device operating an indicator on any desired floor of the building, such as the -groundfloor; but I do not claim this as any part of my invention.

Figs. 5 and b show the arrangement of the parts which I preferably employ in constructing the push-button box 0. The essential parts of this device are the three contacts such as 9, 10, and 11, connected by fixed wires with various parts of the apparatus, as hereinbefore described, so arranged that the points 9, 10, and 11 are mutually connected when the button a has been pushed. The push-button box also includes a device for maintaining this contact when the button has been pushed, such as a rod or catch-pin fitting into a recess such as is represented at g. After the desired signals have been operated and the purpose for which the button has been pushed has been accomplished I provide a means for releasing the button by withdrawing the catch from the recess g by constructing it of suitable metal and placing about it a coil through which the electric current may-pass and, operating as an electromagnet, will release the button, which is then forced to resume its normal position by a coil-spring or other suitable device, thus breaking the electric connection between 9, 10, and 11 by withdrawing the conducting'strip, such as 20. The circuit through the solenoid-coil or electromagnet is closed only when the button is pushed and connection is thus made by the strip 30 between the contacts 29 and Si of the push-but ton box, which are suitably connected with the other parts of the apparatus, as herein- The conducting-strips 20 and 30 are insulated from each other and are mounted upon a non-conducting base, such as f. The points 9 1O 11 and 29 31 may be formed in the shape of leaf-contacts or flat springs 0, adapted to engage closely witlrthe conductors 520 and 30 when the button a has been pushed. Instead of the push-button or plunger such as a I may use a lever and eccentric or equivalent mechanical device.

\Vhen the cars are not run ning regularly or frequently, as at night, it might not be sufficient to operate the signals upon the plan contemplated by my system as hereinbefore described, but I may so construct the pushbutton box 0 that when the button (torb has been pressed the eontactpoints, such as (I, carried by the button will come in contact with points 6, suitably placed, and thereby close an independent circuit which will include both up and downbuttons in all pushbutton boxes, which may be simply connected to operate a bell or lamp upon the groundfloor or other suitable part of the building, which signal will continue to operate until a car has reached the floor at which the button has been pushed, when the solenoid-circuit corresponding to that floor will be closed by the sliding contact between the point 92 and the block such as 26, thereby releasing the catch and allowing the button to resume its normal position.

I have thus described the construction and operation of my system, which has for its advantages simplicity of construction, cost, operation, and maintenance, requiring but two or four wires contained in a flexible cable leading to the elevator, fou r wires contained in or carried by the traveling rod or tube lI, one wire leading from the dynamo to all floors of the building, to which the solenoid-circuits of all of the push'buttons are directly connected in multiple, and one wire connecting together the similar points 11 of the up and down sections of all push-button boxes and then leading to the lamp in the elevatorcar by one of the wires of the flexible cable. In addition to these is required only a single push-button box for each floor,conneeted, as shown in Fig. 12, with the lamps and fixed contact-plates 0 corresponding to that iloor. By this means I avoid the use of the large number of wires and complicated connections heretofore required involving enormous expense and great weight of wiring to be sus pended from the car and in the elevator-shaft. The essential parts of my invention consist of the arrangement of wires and contacts to accomplish this purpose, as hcreinbefore shown; but I may use alternative constructions or arrangements in some parts thereof not atfccting the novelty of my invent-ion.

The traveling tube II may be adapted to move verticallyor horizontally in any desired direction, distance, or speed relative to the movement of the elevator-car, and my invention may be adapted to a system of signals for use upon tramways and sections of railway. The sliding contacts may consist of wheels, brushes, or fixed plates adapted to come into cont-act with insulated blocks or plates of conducting material; but I do not contemplate the use of a continuous conductor commonly known as a trolley. The signal to be operated in the elevator-car and upon the several floors of the building may consist of an electric lamp or bell or some equivalent audible or visible device, such as a drop-shutter. It is not essential that there should be separate signals for up and down over the doorway on each floor of the building, but one signal might be adapted as an indicator for both upward and downward movement of the elevator-car, and in such case the connection may be made to this single signal by wires from both blocks 16 and 24;. The signal over the elevator-car door may also be connected, as shown, to the block 16 of the plate C corresponding to its flooror may be connected upon the same circuit as the signal in the elevator-car. The blocks 16 and 24- of the plate 0 need not be insulated from each other, but may be united to form a single long block, as the circuits will be broken and the signals cease to operate whenever the points 6 and 22 shall move off from the blocks 7 and 25; but by breaking the contact between the point 17 and the blocks 16 or 24- at the same moment that the break occurs between the point (5 and the block 7 I avoid an objectionable spark, which might otherwise occur at the time of the break. The flexible cable leading to the elevator-car ,may be connected to the middle of the building or some other suitable place, and the con nections with the wires carried by the traveling tube ll may bemade at this place or else where, as I may deem convenient, such as the top or bottom of the building, and the switch F may be operated at the top of the building, as described, or in any other convenient position by any suitable mechanical or electrical means.

The switch A, located in the elevator-car, may be omitted without affecting the novelty of my invention; but I may use it for convenience. \Vhen the car is filled or is running as an express or for any reason it is not desired to stop it or to operate the signals, the person in charge of the car may break the connection between the wires 3 and 4 at A, thereby cuttingthat car out of all circuits and leaving the signals to be operated by the next succeeding car.

I amaware that other systemsand devices have been used to operate indicators in the elevator-car and upon the several floors of a building when one of the cars is approaching the floor in the direction desired, and I am also aware that electric lamps or bells have been used as such indicators or signals, and I do not claim the same broadly; but

\Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In combination with an elevator-car and mechanism for operating the same, of a traveling tube, suspended in the elevator-shaft, moving relatively with the elevator-car and carrying four conducting-Wires, one wire connected to one pole of a signal in the car, another connected to the negative pole of the dynamo or other source of current, and the third and fourth alternately connected to the positive pole of the dynamo or other source of current through an automatic throw-switch tube are severally connected to groups of four contact-surfaces, each group being attached to one of a series of plates fixed to the traveling tube suspended in the elevator-shaft, there being one such plate for each floor of the building; and a group of contact-blocks for each floor fixed at the side of the elevatorshaft, each of such groups of fixed blocks forming contact with one of the plates attached to the suspended tube; and a pushbutton device located on each floor of the building, each device consisting of two similar sections, one section connected to the circuits operating the signals for the elevator ascending and the other section connected to circuits operating signals for the elevator descending, each section comprising a plunger carrying two conducting-bars, and a detent holding the bars in position to maintain the circuits closed, one bar maintaining electrical. connection between three contact points or terminals, one of which terminals is connected to one pole of the signal on the floor of the building 011 which the puslrbutton is placed, another of which terminals is connected to one pole of the signal in the elevator-car, and the third of which is connected to one of the blocks in the group fixed at the side of the elevator-shaft at the floor where the pushbutton is placed, and two terminals connected by the other bar separately forming part of a circuit operating a solenoid or electromagnet for releasing the detent of that pushbutton, and a spring to maintain the circuits broken when the detent is released, substantially as described.

2. In combination with a number of elevator-cars and mechanism for operating the same, of a traveling tube suspended in the shaft of each elevator, moving relatively with its corresponding elevator-car and carrying four conducting-wires, one wire connected to one pole of a signal in the corresponding elevator-car, another connected to the negative pole of the dynamo or other source of current, and the third and fourth alternately connected to the positive pole of the dynamo or other source of current through an automatic throw-switch placed in each shaft and controlled with reference to the direction of movement of the corresponding elevatorcar, but one of these two conductors being in circuit at any time, which said four conductors carried by each tube are severally connected to groups of four contact-surfaces,

each group being attached to one of a series of plates fixed to the traveling tube suspended in each elevator-shaft, there being one such plate for each door of the building upon each tube; and a group of contact-blocks for each floor fixed at the side of each elevator-shaft, each of such groups of fixed blocks forming contact with one of the plates attached to the tube suspended in the shaft of the correspond ing elevator-car; and a push-button device located on each floor of the building, each device consisting of two similar sections, one connected to the circuits operating the signals for elevators ascending and the other section connected to circuits operating nals for elevators descending, each section comprising a plunger carrying two conducting-bars, and a detent holding the bars in position to maintain the circuits closed, one bar maintaining electrical connection between three contact points or terminals, one of which terminals is connected in multiple to one pole of the signal at the doorway of each elevator on the floorof thebuildingon which the pushbutton is placed, another of which terminals is connected in multiple to one pole' of the signal in each elevator-car, and the third of which is connected in multiple to one of the blocks in each of the groups fixed at the side of the several elevator-shafts at the floor where the push-button is placed, and two terminals connected by the other bar separately forming part of a circuit operating a solenoid or electromagnct for releasing the detent of that push-button, and a spring -to maintain the circuits broken when the detent is released, substantially as described.

In combination elevator-car and mech anism for operating the same, of a traveling tube suspended in the elevator-shaft, moving relatively with the elevator-car and carrying four eonducting-wires, one wire connected to one pole of asignal in the car, another connected to the negative pole of the dynamo or other source of current, and the third and fourth alternately connected to the positive pole of the dynamo or other source of current through an automatic throw-switch controlled with reference to the direction of movement of the elevator-car, but one of these two conductors being in circuit at any time, which said four conductors carried by the tube are severally connected to groups of four contact-surfaces, each group being flexibly attached to one of a series of non-conducting plates, there being one such plate for each fioor of the building, each plate supported by a frame rigidly fixed to the suspended tube, and fixed-stops at either end of the path of travel of each plate automatically adjusting the position of the plate relative to its supporting-frame; and a group of contactblocks for each floor fixed at the side of the elevator-shaft, each of such groups of fixed blocks forming contact with one of the plates attached to the suspended tube; and a pushbutton device located on each floor of the building, each device consisting of two similar sections, one connected to the circuits operating the signals for the elevator ascending and the other section connected to circuits operating signals for the elevator descending, each section comprising a plunger carrying two conducting-bars, and a detent holding the bars in position to maintain the circuits closed, one bar maintaining electrical connection between three contact points or terminals, one'of which terminals is connected to one pole of the signal on the floor of the building on which the push-butttm is placed, another of which terminals is connected to one pole of the signal in the elevator-car, and the third of which is connected to one of the blocks in the group fixed at the side of the elevator-shaft at the floor where the push-butitou is placed, and two terminals connected by the other bar separately forming part of a circuit operating a solenoid or electromagnet for releasing the detent of that push-button, and a spring to maintain the circuits broken when the detent is released, substantially as described.

i. In combination with a number of elevator-cars and mechanism for operating the same, of a traveling tube suspended in the shaft of each elevator, moving relatively with its corresponding elevator-car and carrying four conducting-wires, one wire connected to one pole of a signal in the corresponding elevator-car, another connected to the negative pole of the dynamo or other source of current,

and the third and fourth alternatelyconnected to the positive pole of the dynamo or other source of current through an automatic throwswitch placed in each shaft and controlled with reference to the direction of movement of the corresponding elevator-car, but one of these two conductors being in circuit at any time, which said four conductors carried by each tube are severally connected to groups of four contact-surfaces, each group being flexibly attached to one of a series of nonconducting plates, there being one such plate for each floor of the building on each tube, each plate supported by a frame rigidly fixed to the suspended tube, and fixed stops at either end of the path of travel of each plate automatically adjusting the position of the plate relative to its supporting-frame; and a group of contact-blocl-:s for each floor fixed at the side of each elevator-shaft, each of such groups of fixed blocks forming contact with one of the plates attached to the tube suspended in the shaft of the corresponding elevator-car; and a push-button device located on each floor of the building, each device consisting of two similarsections, one connected to the circuits operating the signals for elevators ascending and the other section connectcd to circuits operating signals for elevators descending, each section comprising a plunger carrying two conducting-bars, and a detent holding the bars in position to maintain the circuits closed, one bar maintaining electrical connection between three contact points or terminals, one of which terminals is connected in multiple to one pole of the sig nal at the doorway of each elevator on the floor of the building on which the push-button is placed, another of which terminals is connected in multiple to one pole of the signal in each elevator-car, and the third of was .5

Which is connected in multiple to one of the blocks in each of the groups fixed at the side of the several elevator shafts at the floor Where the push-button is placed, and two terminals connected by the other bar separately forming part of a circuit operating a solenoid or electroinagnet for releasing the detent of that push-button, and a spring to maintain the circuits broken when the detent is released, substantially as described.

5. A circuit-closer for electric signaling devices for elevators, consisting of a traveling rod or tube moving relatively and proportionately with its corresponding elevator-car and carrying insulated conductors severally joining together similarly-situated contact-points flexibly placed upon each of a series of plates fixed to the tube and corresponding to each floorof the building, each plate supported by a surrounding frame to which it is relatively adjustable by longitudinal movement when in contact with a fixed stop at the end of its path of travel, substantially as described.

6. A circuit-closer for electric signaling devices for elevators, consisting of a traveling rod or tube moving relatively and proportionpath of travel; the group of contact-points upon each plate severally forming contacts with a corresponding group of COHhtCt-Sll1- faces fixed at the corresponding floor of the building, the fixed and moving contacts corresponding to any floor being in contact only when the corresponding elevator-car is approaching that floor of the building, substantially as described.

HENRY PEDERSEN.

Witnesses:

ROBERT TRUSLOW, WM. A. Moons, GEORGE A. Honons.

Corrections in Letters Patent No. 629,302,

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 629,302, granted July 18, 1899, upon the application of Henry Pedersen, of New York, N. Y., for an improvement in Apparatus for Operating Electric Signals for Elevators, errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction, as follows: On page 1, line 63, the comma after the compound Word contact-blocks should be stricken out and a period inserted and the following Word six should begin with a capital S, thus commencing a new sentence; same page, line 66, after the Word described, page 2, line 91, after the Word tube, and line 92, after the Word floor, page 3, line 58, after the Word operate, and page 6, line 73, after the Word pressed, commas should be inserted; and page 3, line 42, the compound Word contact-books should read contact-blocks; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiioe.

Signed, countersigned, and sealed this 22d day of August, A. D., 1899.

WVEBSTER DAVIS, Assistant Secretary of the Interior,

[SEAL] Oountersigned A. P. GREELEY,

Acting Commissioner of Patents.

Corrections in Letters Patent No. 629,302.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent N o. 629,302, granted July 18, 1899, upon the application of Henry Pedersen, of New York, N. Y., for an improvement in Apparatus for Operating Electric Signals for Elevators, errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction, as foilowsi On page 1, line 63, the comma after the compound word contaotrblockwshould be stricken out and a period inserted and the following Word six should begin with a capital S, thus commencing a new sentence; same page, line 66, after the Word described, page 2, line 91, after the Word tube, and line 92, after the word floor, page 3, line 58, after the Word operate, and page 6, line 73, after the Word pressed, commas should be inserted; and page 3, line 42, the compound Word contact-books should read contact-blocks; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in thePatent Office.

Signed, countersigned, and sealed this 22d day of August, A. D., 1899.

WEBSTER-DAVIS,

[SEAL] Assistant Sem'etary 0f the Interior. Countersigned A. P. GREELEY,

, Acting Commissioner-0f Patents. 

